Balcony or separate laundry
Would you rather have?

If you were looking at apartments to buy, would you rather have a separate laundry (not in bathroom/kitchen but an entire room hidden to guests with room for a clothes horse) or a balcony?

Am leaning towards the laundry, partner says balcony so guests have somewhere to smoke but I find it so disgusting I wouldn't even want them smoking on my balcony and lets face it, it would be me cleaning up stubbed out butts off the railings. (so gross!!!)

TBH, I would never buy or rent an apartment that didn't have both of these features.

Living in an apartment without a balcony would feel too claustrophobic for me. Even if it didn't get used rarely, its nice to be able to just step out for a few minutes but not have to actually 'go out'.

But I value having a separate laundry just as highly. And if it was big enough to have a clothes rack, even better.

Balcony. I can't stand apartments that have not one outdoor space. What about possible a small closet for the laundry? I've seen some small units employ this method that way it's seperate from the bathroom/kitchen but doesn't need a whole room.

TBH, I would never buy or rent an apartment that didn't have both of these features.

Living in an apartment without a balcony would feel too claustrophobic for me. Even if it didn't get used rarely, its nice to be able to just step out for a few minutes but not have to actually 'go out'.

But I value having a separate laundry just as highly. And if it was big enough to have a clothes rack, even better.

I can dream, but we are not in the position to leave Sydney so we can have what we can afford. Maybe the market will crash like predicted and we can have both (still will not be happy about any cigarette butts)

We will have a little one soon and I would like a little room in the laundry as washing will be constant.

We lived in a 2 bedroom unit - with a combined bathroom / laundry. By the time the 2nd baby arrived - I was desperate for a separate laundry esp if the girls were sick, I had dirty / wet / stinky washing to be washed and dried.

I lasted 4-and-a-half years with a combined bathroom / laundry.

I almost cried when we bought this townhouse about 8 months ago - I have a separate laundry and it's huge. It is fan-freaking-tastic !!

Balcony. Where are you going ot have the BBQ, the outdoor table and chairs? I would miss having a balcony terribly. Our laundry is pretentiously called a New York Laundry, which is a laundry in a cupboard.

Balcony. Where are you going ot have the BBQ, the outdoor table and chairs? I would miss having a balcony terribly. Our laundry is pretentiously called a New York Laundry, which is a laundry in a cupboard.

We are throwing out our BBQ. The Man loves the idea of having them, bought him one for a birthday 4 years ago. Now he uses it as a bird feeder and is covered in muck and spiders (cleaning is not his strong point and I have been living with parents until bub arrives)

Id prefer both, and I've never lived in an apartment without both. But if I absolutely had to choose...probably a separate laundry. Don't like the idea of having my washing machine and dryer in the kitchen or bathroom.

Balcony. Where are you going ot have the BBQ, the outdoor table and chairs? I would miss having a balcony terribly. Our laundry is pretentiously called a New York Laundry, which is a laundry in a cupboard.

I am seeing those in the newer apartments, would be good with no kids. We are having to look at the 60's to 80's style apartments where laundries were either a whole room or in the bathroom. Frustratingly I have fallen in love with an Art deco apartment in Stanmore (which is $150 000 over our goal budget) and it does not have a laundry at all!

A balcony gives you some where to air dry your stuff otherwise it is always a slogg down to the line which you really do not want with a new born. That is if you live in an area where it is safe to leave stuff on that line (uni students nicked my white sheets once on halloween(ok so it may not have been them but they did have white sheets on and mine were gone)) Even with a dryer you have to hang some things out.

It can also be such a struggle to get out with a little baby- you have to do your hair, put on clean clothes. you know that endless list. so being able to sit in the sun or fresh air for 5 mins without hassle is worth gold to me.

Now that my bub is older the balcony is a good place for playing with water on a warm day.

I found the closet ones fine which we had until DS was 1yr). Put dirty pile in the sink between washes and i had a front loader so I could have a basket of wet stuff sitting on top waiting for the dryer. No way I'd do shared laundry with a baby...can't carry a full washing basket and child down stairs easily...unless you are wonder woman in disguise.

One of the things I found with Aussie baby clothes is that a lot of them can't be tumble dried (they shrink even when they say they can be) so having a balcony is essential to get stuff dry. Some stratas don't allow laundry on balcony though..watch out for that one.

I am also think resale value, so all input and opinions are very helpful.

TBH I hate dyers, but after 3 years of carrying laundry up and down stairs to the communal washing lines I know it will not work with a baby. I do have an old lady trolley now due to having to carry too much stuff while preggers so maybe I will have a new use for it.

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